Meandering Vines.......Completed!

As promised, here is the finished nuno felt cotton gauze shawl,

finished in time for the Talmadge Art Show this past weekend.

My friend Cielo Pessione, who makes beautiful crochet jewelry and accessories,

graciously modeled the shawl at the show. Her crochet necklace goes perfectly with the piece.

I'm more than pleased with the result.

One Idea Leads To The Next

When I bought this felt rolling machine, from Feltcrafts , it came with enough blue solar pool blanket material, to wrap the nuno felt work up in before placing it on the machine to roll.  But, I found that technique slowed the process down, so I put the work on the machine to roll in the same way as when I had rolled it by hand.  Many of my pieces are thin, so I was always looking for a way to create the roll  big enough around and with enough body not to slip or twist between the two lower rollers as they turned. I had even placed textured stair tread tape strips on the rollers to keep the roll from slipping. You can see that gray stair tread tape in the first photo.  But the gravely texture of the tape was chewing up the plastic cover on the work, so I removed it.  The quest continued.  Then I hit on the following: I made a roll from a piece of the solar blanket, to be used as a center to roll my work around. In the 4th picture down you can see the "core" roll.  It is the same length as the rollers on the machine, and thus stays in place perfectly. And most important, it makes the work felt faster to have that textured, some what flexible core in the center.

Pleased with the results on the machine, I then adopted this method in teaching my workshop students.  They make a center core for rolling by taking their blue rubbing mats, rolling them up, 

bubble side out, secured with rubber bands.  

So much more effective than a rolled up towel or a pool noodle.

 One idea leads to another. The other day I was watching the machine do it's thing, and I got to thinking. If the pool blanket material is so effective in the center of the work, ( often felting the center faster than the rest of the piece), what might happen if the rollers that the rolled up work was coming in contact with were also that same textured material?  I cut some of the blue bubble stuff to fit around each bottom roller, and taped it in place.  I am here to say, it works fantastically!  The first nuno piece I tried it with felted up in half the time!  

 Rollers covered with blue pool blanket

 Center core roll, secured with rubber bands.

 Here you can see the work in place on the machine, and rolled around the core.

Can't you just see those fibers rolling and bouncing and working their way quickly through the fabric?

Meandering Vines

I love the lines of wool that meander the length of this piece.

The soft and lofty stage is my favorite.

You can see the dry lay out progressing through these photos.

Though not pictured, the piece has been rolled, and is well felted.

Now it just needs fulling.

Later I will post the completed shawl.

Blue Nuno Felt Wall Hanging

Textile Dreams In Laguna Beach

I am very excited to show my work at Duet, in Laguna Beach, California

Martin Venzal, the owner of Duet, sought me out after a customer of mine

came into his shop wearing one of my nuno felt gauze shawls.

Color and a flare for art to wear is the scene at Duet.

The way Martin and his staff have displayed my shawls

brings a new perspective and liveliness to my work.

Laguna Beach is a beautiful beach town

with first rate shopping, dining, and scenery. We have enjoyed many

a day trip from San Diego, to meet friends and take in the ambiance.

I am delighted that my nuno felt has found such an ideal home there!

Duet is located at 290 Forest Ave.

"Brilliant Bands" is prominently displayed in the window.

and you will notice the

beautiful leather and nuno handbag they paired with it.

(more about that in a minute)

"Gaudi Evening", inspired by a visit to Barcelona,

is draped casually over an antiqued vase.

"Bright Lattice" is a perfect compliment to

an elegant green dress and hat.

I really like the way they paired up the "Caribbean Rainbow" shawl with that

familiar looking beaded purple leather handbag.

"Day and Night", silk and wool

nuno felt scarf.

We brought more work to Duet last week and

took the opportunity to show Martin Burt's unique leather handbags.

I had a feeling he would love them, and he did!

On several of the handbags Burt has incorporated pieces of nuno felt

as is the case with "Red on Red" in the window, and "Rusty Turq", below.

"Metallica"

"Violet", leather and nuno felt

All

Burt Watson Originals

Show and Tell at The Getty

I often brag about my prize pupil, Mimi. Mimi and I were potters back in the 70's when we first met and became friends. A few years ago I taught Mimi how to felt, and she took to it like wool to silk! We recently visited the Getty Center together in Los Angeles, and had our own little art show in the parking garage afterwards! Mimi makes the most beautiful felt wall hangings, and here she is with her latest beauty. You can see all of her wonderful felt and nuno felt creations on her website

Once a potter, always a potter! Mimi has found the same magic quality in shaping felt as she did with clay, back in the day. See all her beautiful felt vessels here!

Oh, and did you notice the luscious nuno felt scarf she is wearing? Sitting across from her at lunch, I couldn't take my eyes off of it! Be sure to click on the links to see it all!

Studio Mascot

The studio is all set up and ready for the felt bracelet class to begin.

Industrious students, hard at work!

Everyone loves Monty, our ever vigilant studio mascot!